Pittsburgh must work to attract a more diverse workforce to bolster its economy, particularly in the tech sector.

Pittsburgh Technology Council President and CEO Audrey Russo told the Pittsburgh Mastermind Group this month that there’s a great need for tech talent to support companies here, but many of the best and brightest move away. Population in the U.S. as a whole is increasing, but not in Pittsburgh.

“They are getting a chance to study with the best and brightest, and then they go home,” Russo said. “When we have job fairs at CMU, RMU, Pitt, half the people I see at those job fairs are people who want citizenship or a green card in the U.S. and most employers don’t sponsor people.”

She was referring to H1-B and H2-B visa programs which allow employers to sponsor foreign-born workers.

“We could shift that number right away if (more) companies were willing to sponsor some students who come out of these top-tier universities,” Russo said. “We have a fiercely competitive global workforce.”

Leaders here could also work to develop spaces, and more flexible lease terms that meet the needs of start-ups or companies that are growing, she said. Many companies are not in a position, for example, to take on a seven-year lease.

Pittsburgh leaders also should also work to create the types of communities and amenities that encourage people to stay here, Russo said. In talking to workers from out of town at one company, some named improving traffic flow, the public transportation system, the city schools, and the quality of the rivers, as chief among their concerns.